Spike pulling machine

ABSTRACT

A machine for pulling rail spikes from ties of a railroad track is equipped with a clamping device including gripper-like clamping elements for engaging a spike head. A clamping drive is provided for movement of the gripping elements, and a separate vertical adjustment drive is provided for vertical adjustment of the clamping device. With this, even rail spikes of different sizes can be gripped without problems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, in general, to a spike pulling machine for pulling rail spikes from ties of a railroad track.

2. Description of Related Art

European published patent application No. 1 041 202 A1 describes a machine of the generic type. There, the machine has pincer-like gripping elements for engaging a head of a rail spike. In operation, these gripping elements are pulled upwards into a cylinder-shaped tube, which causes the gripping elements to be moved towards one another automatically for the purpose of gripping a spike head. However, this has the disadvantage that deformed spike heads, or spikes of different design, can not be gripped properly or can only be gripped with difficulty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a spike pulling machine that overcomes the disadvantages of the heretofore-known machines of this general type, and with which it is possible without problems to also remove rail spikes even when they possess heads of varying design.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the present invention, a spike pulling machine for pulling rail spikes from ties of a railroad track extending in a track plane, the rail spikes having spike heads. The novel machine comprises a clamping device including gripping elements configured for application to a spike head; a clamping drive provided for moving the gripping elements relative to one another; and a vertical adjustment drive provided for adjusting the clamping device in a vertical direction.

With a solution of this kind, incorporating two separate drives, it is possible to ensure that the gripping elements of the clamping device are moved with a uniform and constant clamping force, independently of the width of the spike head to be gripped. Thus, any type of spike head can be most reliably engaged.

In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the machine further comprises a supporting leg intended for placement upon a tie of the track. The clamping device, together with the clamping drive, is mounted for vertical adjustment on said supporting leg.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the machine further comprises flanged rollers, provided for support on the track and spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction, and operating handles for controlling the machine. The clamping device and the supporting leg are arranged one following the other with respect to the longitudinal direction, and the supporting leg is distanced from the operating handles farther than the clamping device.

In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the machine further comprises a machine frame, mobile on the track by means of said flanged rollers, and a tool carrier supported on said machine frame for pivoting about an axis extending perpendicularly to the track plane, the clamping device and the supporting leg being mounted on said tool carrier.

In accordance with again an added feature of the invention, the tool carrier is fixable in its pivoted position relative to the machine frame by means of a blocking device.

In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the supporting leg has a lower end configured as a supporting plate which is mounted for displacement relative to the supporting leg in a direction of longitudinal extension of the supporting leg and designed to be connected to the supporting leg in different displacement positions, as desired.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a spike pulling machine for pulling railroad spikes, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a spike pulling machine; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial side view of a clamping device according to the invention configured for engaging a spike head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a side view of a spike pulling machine 1 including a machine frame 4. The latter is mounted on a chassis frame 11 having flanged rollers 2, provided for mobility of the machine 1 on a track 3 extending in a track plane 14. The flanged rollers 3 are spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction of the machine, as indicated by arrow 31. The machine frame 4 is supported on the chassis frame 11 by means of a carriage 10 which is articulatedly connected to the machine frame 4 for pivoting about an axis 9 extending transversely to the longitudinal direction. The carriage 10, in turn, is mounted on the chassis frame 5 for displacement transversely to the longitudinal direction. The machine frame 4 is further equipped with a motor 5 and a hydraulic installation 6. Operating handles 7 including control devices 8 are provided at an end of the machine frame 4 distanced from the motor 5.

Situated between the carriage 10 and the operating handles 7 is a tool carrier 12 which is fastened to the machine frame 4 for pivoting about an axis 13. The latter extends perpendicularly to the track plane 14. A blocking device 19 is provided for arresting the pivoting movement of the tool carrier 12 about the axis 13.

As shown also in FIG. 2, a supporting leg 15 extending perpendicularly to the track plane 14 is fastened to the tool carrier 12. The supporting leg 15 has a lower end 16 connected to a supporting plate 18 which is provided for being placed upon a tie 17 of the track 3. The supporting plate 18 is mounted for displacement relative to the supporting leg 15 in a direction of elongation 21 of the supporting leg 15, extending perpendicularly to the track plane 14, and may be connected to the supporting leg 15 by means of bolts 20, as desired.

A gripper carrier 28 is mounted on the supporting leg 15 for vertical displacement in the direction of elongation 21 in a guide 24 and is connected to a clamping device 22. A vertical adjustment drive 23 connected to the tool carrier 12 is provided for vertical adjustment of the gripper carrier 28 with the clamping device 22. The latter comprises two pincer-like gripping elements 25 pivotable about a gripper axis 27 by means of a clamping drive 26 which is connected to the gripper carrier 28. The clamping device 22 and the supporting leg 15 are arranged one behind the other with regard to the longitudinal direction (arrow 31).

In operation, the machine 1 is positioned, with the aid of the operating handles 7, in such a way that the clamping device 22—with opened gripping elements 25—comes to lie above a spike head 29 of a rail spike 30. With actuation of the clamping drive 26, the two gripping elements 25 are moved towards one another with a clamping force which is selectively adjustable, thus causing the spike head 29 to be engaged in a form-fitting manner (see FIG. 2). As a result of the subsequent actuation of the vertical adjustment drive 23, the supporting plate 18 is pressed onto the tie 17 and the gripper carrier 28, together with the clamping device 22 and the clamping drive 26, is raised, causing the rail spike 30 to be pulled out of the tie 17.

In the event of a tie 17 lying in an oblique position, the clamping device 22 can be adjusted in an optimal way to match the particular position of the rail spike 30 by temporarily loosening the blocking device 19 and swivelling the tool carrier 12. In order to pull a rail spike 30 located on the opposite rail side, it is merely necessary to pivot the machine 1 slightly about the axis 9 until the clamping device 22 and the supporting plate 18 are lifted clear of the upper rail edge. By transversely displacing the machine 1 with the aid of the carriage 10, the gripping elements 25 can be centered above the rail spike 30 to be pulled. The subsequent pulling operation is initiated with lowering the gripper carrier 28.

Alternatively, of course, it is also possible to arrange the gripper carrier 28 fixedly on the supporting leg 15 and to adjust the supporting leg 18 relative to the supporting leg 15 in the direction of elongation 21 by means of a drive, for example, in order to thereby pull a rail spike 30 from a tie 17.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a spike pulling machine, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

This application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of German patent application No. 202004010216.1, filed Jun. 30, 2004; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims and their equivalents: 

1. A spike pulling machine for pulling rail spikes from ties of a railroad track extending in a track plane, the rail spikes having spike heads, the machine comprising: a clamping device with gripping elements configured for application to a spike head; a clamping drive provided for moving the gripping elements relative to one another; and a vertical adjustment drive provided for adjusting the clamping device in a vertical direction.
 2. The machine according to claim 1, which further comprises a supporting leg intended for placement upon a tie of the track, wherein the clamping device together with the clamping drive is mounted for vertical adjustment on said supporting leg.
 3. The machine according to claim 2, which further comprises flanged rollers, provided for support on the track and spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction, and operating handles for controlling the machine, wherein the clamping device and the supporting leg are arranged one following the other with respect to the longitudinal direction, and wherein the supporting leg is distanced from the operating handles farther than the clamping device.
 4. The machine according to claim 3, which further comprises a machine frame, mobile on the track by means of said flanged rollers, and a tool carrier supported on said machine frame for pivoting about an axis extending perpendicularly to the track plane, wherein the clamping device and the supporting leg are mounted on said tool carrier.
 5. The machine according to claim 4, wherein said tool carrier may be fixed in its pivoted position relative to the machine frame by means of a blocking device.
 6. The machine according to claim 2, wherein the supporting leg has a lower end configured as a supporting plate which is mounted for displacement relative to the supporting leg in a direction of longitudinal extension of the supporting leg and designed to be connected to the supporting leg in different displacement positions, as desired. 